Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer

In Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer, readers meet Jenna Boller, a 16-year old that is too tall for her age, not very good in school and has an alcoholic father. Her one talent (in her eyes) is her talent for selling shoes. She has a job that she loves in Gladstone’s Shoe Store where Jenna takes delight in giving customers quality merchandise and excellent service. When her father arrives in the store drunk, Jenna is sure that she will be fired. Instead, the irascible Mrs. Gladstone, owner of the entire Gladstone chain of stores asks Jenna to be her driver on a trip to visit other Gladstone stores. Jenna is very nervous about accepting the job, leaving her family, and spending so much time alone with Mrs. Gladstone. While on the trip, Jenna meets Harry Bender, “the world’s best shoe salesman”. She also discovers, with the help of Mrs. Gladstone that she has an eye for shoddy quality and sloppy service. When Harry dies suddenly, Jenna strives to be the kind of person that Harry was and is able to save the day when she stands up to Elden Gladstone, the sleazy son of the chain’s owner. Jenna arrives home a changed person who is finally able to let go of the past and stand up to both her fears and her father.

Bauer writes a wrenching tale of a young girl’s coming of age. The story is told through Jenna’s eyes as she “comes to admire and love her boss and eagerly enters into an alliance of loyal employees to save the company” (School Library Journal, 1998). Although the story portrays Jenna’s dealings with her alcoholic father, the overall tone of the book is hopeful, encouraging readers to face their problems head-on and accept help from those who love them most. The dialogs between Jenna and Mrs. Gladstone, Jenna and Harry, and even Jenna and Elden reflect the true feel of a slightly insecure teenager who feels that she has been thrust in a situation beyond her control. “It’s an unlikely hero’s journey, and Bauer’s dry humor assures readers that all’s well that ends well, if not in corporate takeovers, at least in the business of growing up” (Kirkus Reviews, 1998).

I would recommend this book for students in grades 6-11

Keywords associated with this book: coming of age, alcoholism, shoes, driving, road, boss, relationships, contemporary realistic fiction, young adult fiction

The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker by Cynthia deFelice

In 1849, Lucas Whitaker has lost his entire family to consumption. The morning after he buries his mother, he leaves his family farm and wanders around aimlessly. He happens upon a house with a sign—“Apprentice wanted”. Dr. Uriah M. Beecher, the local dentist, apothecary, barber and undertaker accepts Lucas as his apprentice. As with Lucas’ community, the community where Dr. Beecher works is being faced with the spread of consumption. The local people want to try a grizzly technique that Lucas has heard of, but has never seen performed. The technique involves digging up the body of the first family member to die from consumption, cutting out the heart and burning it. The ailing people breathe in the smoke and even drink a potion made from the ashes. Lucas feels sure that the technique is worth trying, but Dr. Beecher isn’t so sure. This story by Cynthia deFelice looks at the medical practices of the past and takes us into Lucas’ life as we realize how far we have come.

Cynthia deFelice may be known to some readers as an author of supernatural fantasy tales. She brings a bit of the macabre to nineteenth century medicine as Lucas and the community members attempt to stop the spread of a deadly disease; “the inclusion of corpses and exhumations, though not described in detail, adds—for some readers—an appealingly grisly touch” (Kirkus Associates, 1996). Through Lucas’ eyes, readers see his evolution from a grief-stricken victim of a deadly epidemic to a more thoughtful, modern-thinking character in this fast-paced story that gives readers a glimpse into the historical attitudes regarding health, hygiene, and superstitions.

Due to the macabre images and subject matter, I would recommend this book for students in grades 4-7.

Keywords associated with this book: consumption, apprentice, medicine, doctor, grief, hygiene, cure, epidemic, tradition, historical fiction

Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

“I come from a family with a lot of dead people”. So begins Deborah Wiles’ Each Little Bird That Sings, a 2006 Bluebonnet Award nominee and a Junior Library Guild Selection. Comfort Snowberger is a 10-year old girl who lives with her family above their funeral parlor. Comfort has grown up attending funerals and although death and dying do not bother her, no one in her family is prepared when 90-year old Great-great-aunt Florentine Snowberger dies in the family vegetable garden. When the day for the funeral arrives, Comfort’s irritating cousin Peach Shuggars arrives and Comfort is deserted by her best friend Declaration Johnson, making Comfort realize that not all emotions are easy to control, especially when they all impact at once. Readers will identify with Comfort as she copes with the loss of a family member, the apparent defection of her best friend and the loss of her dog, Dismay. Throughout the story, “Wiles succeeds wonderfully in capturing ‘the messy glory’ of grief and life” (Booklist, 2005).

This story is a touching tribute to a family who performs a service that makes life more bearable for others. The author tells the story through the eyes of Comfort, who although she has lived with death for her entire life, has trouble accepting the death of her great-great aunt and her beloved dog Dismay. Readers will laugh as they read Comfort’s “Life Notices” (as opposed to Death Notices) and her “Top Ten Tips for First-rate Funeral Behavior”. “In this heartfelt and quintessentially Southern coming-of-age novel, Comfort will charm young readers with her wit, her warmth, and her struggles as she learns about life, loss, and ultimately, triumph” (Amazon.com, 2007).

I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-5.

Keywords associated with this book: death, dying, family, flood, funeral, grief, realistic fiction, humor, friendship, pet

Henny Penny

Many of us remember the cry—“The sky is falling, the sky is falling”. Paul Galdone retells this classic story in his own definitive manner. In Henny Penny, the unfortunate character has been hit in the head by a falling acorn and thinks that her cry is true. She makes the decision to run off and tell the king and meets several “fowl” friends along the way—Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey and Turkey Lurkey. Henny and her friends head on toward their end in more ways than one. The ending of this tale is not the happily ever after that some readers might expect, but Galdone explains the ending with an endearing family picture of Foxy Loxy, his wife and seven cubs—they were only feeding themselves.

The simple text in this book is wonderful for younger students. The bright, action filled illustrations draw the eye and keep readers anxiously awaiting the next stop on Henny Penny’s cumulative journey. Although readers may find Henny Penny’s version of reality impossible (who would really think the sky is falling), the characters she meets along the way have no problem believing her. As with other traditional literature, Henny Penny “reflects society, providing insight into the human condition as well as representing the good, the bad, the strengths, and the flaws in all of us” (Murphy, Lecture Notes, 2007). This cumulative tale will be a favorite among readers of all ages, despite its less than ideal ending. Galdone’s retelling and illustrations make this a great choice for a folk tale unit or for a read aloud.

I would recommend this book for students in grades K-2.

Keywords associated with this book: folk tale, traditional fantasy, hen, bird, humor, fox, and trickery

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

“And then one day, he was lost”. With these words, Kate DiCamillo begins our journey of love and loss—with a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. With a story reminiscent of The Velveteen Rabbit, DiCamillo personifies Edward, a toy that is loved unconditionally by Abilene Tulane. At the beginning of Edward’s story, the pampered toy listens to a bedtime story about a beautiful princess who loved no one and cared nothing for love. The story had a very abrupt and sad ending—at least for the princess. Edward heard the story and got shivers at the way Pellegrina, Abilene’s grandmother, looked at him, but still did not let himself feel love for anyone other than himself. When Edward was lost at sea, he spent 297 days thinking about the family he had lost and feels his first emotion—fear. This is Edward’s first step on a long journey to learning to love. Readers will alternately feel angry at Edward for his arrogance and feel sorry for his losses as he journeys. “The tender look at the changes from arrogance to grateful loving is perfectly delineated” (School Library Journal, 2006).

Edward’s journey is beautifully illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. She uses sepia toned gouache to illustrate each chapter’s beginning with a small drawing that defines the story to come and full color plates to take readers into Edward’s world. Whether you have loved and lost or never loved at all, readers of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane will come back again and again to believe in the power of love.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 4-7.

Keywords associated with this book: fiction, fantasy, rabbit, toy, love, relationships

The Egyptian Cinderella

“Long ago, in the land of Egypt, where the green Nile widens to meet the blue sea, there lived a maiden called Rhodopis.” Thus begins Shirley Climo’s The Egyptian Cinderella. This blending of fact and myth from ancient Egypt tells the story of Rhodopis, a girl who was taken from her homeland of Greece to be a slave in Egypt. Because her fair skin and blonde hair made her different than the Egyptian house servants, they teased her and made her do their work along with her own. Her disinterested master did not notice how Rhodopis was treated, but one day saw her dancing by the river. He was so impressed, that he had a special pair of slippers made for her, making the Egyptian girls more jealous than ever. When they are invited to Memphis to meet the Pharaoh, Rhodopis is left behind where a falcon, symbol of the god Horus takes one of the slippers and delivers it to the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh Amasis begins a search for the one girl who fits the slipper to make her his queen. The search is the stuff of fairy tales and ends with a happily ever after that makes readers cheer for the “most Egyptian of all”.

Ruth Heller illustrates the tale using “powerful visual presentations reminiscent of the figures on Egyptian frieze paintings and carvings” (School Library Journal, 1989). She uses bright colors to illustrate the story with colorful images that represent Egypt—lotus flowers, hippos, the great falcon, and of course, the River Nile. The text and illustrations are cleverly intertwined, ensuring that readers will enjoy this imaginative variation of a beloved favorite.

I would recommend this book for students aged Kindergarten—third grade.

Keywords associated with this book: Cinderella, Egypt, falcon, Pharaoh, fairy tale, picture book, slippers

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses

Once there was a girl who loved wild horses. Her family loved her enough to let her live with the creatures that she loved. In this Caldecott winning Native American folk tale, Paul Goble tells the story of a girl who understands horses in a special way. One day, she falls asleep just as a terrible storm approaches. She is awaked by thunder and lightning and jumps on the back of her horse as the entire herd attempts to outrun the storm. When they finally stop running, the horses are lost. The next morning, they are greeted by herd of wild horses who welcome them all to live with them. Readers will be enthralled by the tale of the girl who becomes part of the world that she loves more than anything.

The brilliant illustrations that accompany Goble’s simple text draw the reader into the Native American culture most effectively. Though simplistic in appearance, the drawings express the movement of horses, the violence of the thunderstorm and the beauty of the world we live in. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses shows the way a family loves their daughter enough to let her go and live the life she dreams of. This amazing story will give readers of all ages the courage to believe in the fantastic and to live their dreams.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 2-4.

Keywords associated with this book: Native American, horse, legend, folk tale, picture book, Caldecott

You Wouldn't Want to be an Egyptian Mummy

An ancient Egyptian mummy known as the “screaming mummy” was buried alive and wrapped in sheepskin, probably as a punishment. This and other interesting, and yes, disgusting things can be discovered by reading David Stewart’s You Wouldn’t Want to be an Egyptian Mummy!: Disgusting Things You’d Rather Not Know. This fascinating installment in the You Wouldn’t Want to Be…series provides readers a step-by-step process for becoming an Egyptian mummy. In addition to becoming a mummy, Stewart also discusses the mourning process, the afterlife the mummy can expect and even famous mummy’s and the “Pharaoh’s curse”. Readers will be disgusted, intrigued and amused by the droll language used and will enjoy a little blood and guts to go along with their history.

Although you may have been told not to judge a book by its cover, this book is the exception. The bright attention-grabbing cover is just a prelude to the colorful illustrations by David Antram that you’ll find inside. Antram provides large, comic-type pictures to illustrate such gory facts as putting the liver, lungs, stomach and intestines in separate jars. The sidebars are filled with items that will be needed for the mummification process and the afterlife. The illustrations are filled with humor and expression and will encourage readers to find something new each time the book is opened.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 3-6.

Keywords associated with this book: Egypt, mummy, embalm, afterlife, nonfiction, picture book

Lives of the Musicians

When Kathleen Krull was a child, she played Bach, Joplin, and Satie on the piano with the window open. She transformed her love of music into a fascinating look into the lives of several well-known musicians. In Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (And What the Neighbors Thought), Krull gives us more of an informal, behind the scenes type biography of twenty musicians ranging from Vivaldi to Joplin to Woody Guthrie. Each life story begins with a one-sentence synopsis of the musician’s life and includes one or two of their well-known works. The biographies are short, easy to read, and are written with typical Kathleen Krull humor that will make you giggle while you learn.

All of the biographies are enhanced by Kathryn Hewitt’s clever illustrations. Hewitt uses full-page, portrait-type caricature, each filled with images of important details about the life of each subject. Hewitt uses subdued colors that highlight her ability to capture the personality and temperament of each composer. “Lives of the Musicians will appeal to those who love music, to those who like to hear the story behind a famous name, and to just about everyone else” (from front flap).

I would recommend this book for students in grades 2-4.

Keywords associated with this book: musician, composer, biography, music, picture book

Please Bury Me in the Library

Although most of us love libraries, there are few of us who would like for the library to be our final resting place—until now. In Please Bury Me in the Library, J. Patrick Lewis shows us the silly and sometimes ghoulish side of libraries. With typical Lewis humor, he wonders aloud “What if Books Had Different Names?” (like Furious George or Mary Had a Little Clam). From the silly to the macabre, Lewis asks to be buried in the library “right next to the paperbacks…with a dozen long-stemmed proses…and bookworms in his coffin”. The rhyming poems touch on topics such as book titles, the world of books, classics, and even “Reading in the Dark”. Each rhyme will appeal to young and old alike, especially those with a sense of the ridiculous.

J. Patrick Lewis has done it again. The verses in this book are written in various forms, from haiku to acrostics and couplets. “The thickly applied acrylic paint and mixed-media illustrations” by Kyle M. Stone give “a comically grotesque air, and add comprehension to the verses” (School Library Journal, 2005). From “Flea-ting Fame” to “Ab-so-lu-tas-ti-cal”, the poems in this book will make any librarians—or book lover’s heart go pitter-patter.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 1-4.

Keywords associated with this book: books, library, reading, poetry

Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers: A Collection of Family Poems

Families come in all shapes and sizes. In Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers: A Collection of Family Poems, Mary Ann Hoberman introduces us to families—“What is a Family?” describes different types of families, while “Vacation” gives a humorous look at taking a family of five on vacation—when no one is sure where they are going. The rhyming verses cover family topics such as new babies, family reunions and being an only child. The underlying theme of family permeates each offering and reminds us that in part, we are who we are due to our family.

Through often amusing verses, Mary Ann Hoberman laughs her way through families. The rhymes are primarily narrative and are enhanced by the expressionistic illustrations by Marilyn Hafner. The collection of poems takes a different look at something that we all take for granted sometimes—our family.


I would recommend this book for students in grades K-3.

Keywords associated with this book: family, poetry, childhood, tradition, father, mother, sister, brother, vacation

Locomotion

Lonnie Collins Motion, nicknamed Locomotion by his mother is in the fifth grade class of Ms. Marcus—a young enthusiastic teacher who encourages her inner city students to write various kinds of poetry. Lonnie begins his poetry book by talking about his foster mother, Miss Edna, the proper lady who encouraged him to be quiet when she first took him in after the fire that killed both of his parents. Throughout the book, Lonnie introduces us to other people who affect his life, including friends from school, his younger sister and his big brother, Miss Edna’s son Rodney. “His reflections touch on poverty and on being African American when whites seem to have the material advantages, and return repeatedly to the pain of living apart from his younger sister” (School Library Journal, 2004).

“Today’s a bad day
Is that haiku? Do I look
like I even care?”

With these words, Lonnie continues to give readers insight into his world. With flowing free verse, haiku, sonnet, epistle poems and others, Jacqueline Woodson through the voice of Lonnie provides deep, insightful, and sometimes heartrending lyrics about the life of a young African American boy. Although the book is written in verse, it is easy to lose yourself in the life of Lonnie and to laugh and cry with him as he avoids confrontation with the unpredictable Eric in his class and tries to find God so that he and his younger sister can finally be together. Through it all, we are reminded of the difficulties of life and the resiliency of youth. The verses leave a feeling of hope in the reader as Lonnie rediscovers himself in his new life.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 4 and up.

Keywords associated with this book: school, foster care, family, fire, separation, death, verse

Do Not Open This Book!

“Do Not Open This Book!” the cover exclaims in large, red letters. Michaela Muntean has written about the process of writing a book in this humorous story that is written not only with the reader in mind, but actually to the reader. The main character is a pig who is trying to write a book. However, upon opening the book, the reader disturbs the pig and makes it almost impossible for him to complete his task. Things like staring at him interfere with his ability to think. And turning the book pages disturbs the order of the words, changing a ferocious storm into a big, ferocious mouse, which comes after the pig. Throughout the book, the pig keeps telling the reader to go away, but still creates interest by writing a story in which the reader is the main character.

Michaela Muntean and Pascal Lemaitre combine to make a witty, interesting book that talks about the writing process. The illustrations show boxes of verbs, objects and animals and even a box of “dangerous words”. All the way through the book, the pig uses pieces of paper to “write” the story. When the reader turns the page, the words get moved around by the wind, and the result is funny while making the point that you have to be careful with words. When the pig finally writes his story, he leaves blanks for the name of the main character so that readers can put their own name in the story. All in all, the book is well-written and funny and a great read for anyone who is interested in becoming an author.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 2-5.

Keywords associated with this book: authorship, pig

Bats at the Beach

The beach is a great place to spend time. There is the ocean, the sand, the surf, and most importantly, the sunshine. However, in Bats at the Beach, author and illustrator Brian Lies weaves a story about bats at the beach. The charming story written in rhyme takes the bats from dusk when they awake through the night spent in the moonshine. The bats take buckets, trowels, banjoes, blankets, books and towels for their excursion and set up to enjoy their time. What do bats do at the beach? Play with things others leave behind, bury friends in the sand and make new friends. They also find time to become kites and surf and sail in the ocean. After time for play, it is time for snacks. With edible treats like damselflies and “salted ‘skeeters”, the bats eat and then have songs around the campfire before packing up to return home.

The rhymes make this a great story for kids of any age. But it is the artwork that will keep you coming back. Bats are shown in traditional beach poses—playing volleyball, flying kites and “roasting ‘bug-mallows’ on slender sticks”. While dark colors in picture books usually make readers think of frightening scenes and creatures, Lies illustrations are both clever and funny, making readers laugh and wish they could be there for the next time the bats visit the beach.

I would recommend this book for students in kindergarten through second grade.

Keywords associated with this book: bats, beach, moon, picnic, and rhyming

Side By Side

I have always envied artists and writers. In Side by Side: Five Favorite Picture-Book Teams Go to Work, envying these amazing talents is nothing to getting to know the people behind the talent. Five well-known teams are featured—Arthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski; Alice and Martin Provensen; Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith, and Molly Leach; Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney; and Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. Each collaborative team discusses their method of collaboration as well as some behind-the-scenes stories of their work together. Some of these teams were successful because their team blended seamlessly. Although not all collaborations last forever, both the collaborators and we, the readers benefit greatly from talents working together.

Did you know that Arthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski were “introduced” by Maurice Sendak? How about that Jon Scieszka “disliked the ‘fuzzy-bunny pastel picture-book world’ of the children’s books he usually saw in stores? The style and language of Side By Side makes it a fascinating read for children and adults alike. I enjoyed the sketches of “dummies” that the illustrators use when they begin a new project. It was also interesting to read how the appearance of characters developed throughout the collaboration process. Anyone who dreams of becoming a children’s author or illustrator, or even those who just love books will enjoy reading the stories behind a few of children’s literature’s greatest teams.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 5 and up and to any adult who wants to learn more about the creation of children’s literature.

Keywords associated with this book: author, illustrator, collaboration, Arthur Yorinks, Richard Egielski, Alice Provensen, Martin Provensen, Jon Scieszka, Lane Smith, Molly Leach, Julius Lester, Jerry Pinkney, Joanna Cole, Bruce Degen.

Flotsam

Flotsam can be defined as material or refuse floating on water. In this Caldecott Award winning wordless book, David Wiesner takes the definition to new heights. The book takes a look at a boy who is at the beach. Unlike many children who visit the beach, the boy brings along a magnifying glass, a microscope and a pair of binoculars. He uses the magnifying glass to befriend a crab and then plans a project using a shovel, a pail and a different crab. A wave knocks him over and supplies him with a new object of interest—an underwater camera with film in it. When the film is developed, the boy finds pictures of mechanical underwater creatures and other incredible scenes. He also finds several photos of other children holding photos. Using his magnifying glass and his microscope, the boy “reads” the history of the camera and adds his own to it. The camera is then returned to the ocean to continue its journey into someone else’s history.

The watercolor illustrations in Wisener’s book are not only colorful, but detailed enough to tell many stories throughout the book. Many of the pictures are displayed in graphic novel style which is attractive to children of many ages. The beach theme of this book will appeal to young and old alike and will tell a new story each time it is opened.

I would recommend this book for students aged pre-K through 3rd grade. The book could also be used with older students in conjunction with a thematic unit.

Key words associated with this book: beach, history, landscapes, underwater, photographs, and shore animals

The Tale of Despereaux

Relationships. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo is a sometimes heartwarming story about the relationships of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread (from title page). In each of the four parts of the book, DiCamillo relates the history and story behind one of the relationships—between Despereaux and the family that never quite understands him; between Chiaroscuro the rat and the royal family that live in the castle he also inhabits; and even between the characters and soup. Despereaux falls in love with the Princess Pea and is cast into the dungeon by the mouse council. In the dungeon, fate steps in and he meets Chiaroscuro the rat who has been planning revenge since he was cast into the dungeon for killing the queen. Fate takes the characters on a trip through each of their history and provides a happily-ever-after ending worthy of the Brothers Grimm.

DiCamillo’s book has elements of fairy tales and animal stories, combined into a Newbery Medal-winning story that readers of all ages will enjoy. Throughout the story, the author addresses comments to the reader which I found distracting but not so distracting as to lose the thread of the story. Several plots are developed throughout the book, linked in unusually unpredictable ways to the other plotlines that are woven throughout the story. The pen and ink drawings by Timothy Basil Ering are worthy of any Disney fairy tale and draw the reader into the mood of the story.

Due to the events in the book (death, dungeons and an overall feeling of evil and despair), I would recommend this book for students in grades 4-8

Key words associated with this book: Fairy Tales, mice, rats, Newbery Medal, castle, dungeon, princess

The Toughest Cowboy

The Toughest Cowboy, written by John Frank and illustrated by Zachary Pullen takes the old west of traditional story time and brings to it a touch of humor that will catch the attention of readers of all ages. “Grizz Brickbottom was the toughest cowboy ever to drive a herd of cattle across the open range.” Grizz decides that he and his gang of cowboy buddies should have another kind of companionship—a dog. When Grizz goes to town and returns with a miniature poodle named Foofy, the roughest, toughest cowboy gang learns new skills that change the face of them all.

The humor in this story is at times unexpected and predictable and will entertain even the most reluctant readers. The characters’ expressive language lends itself well for a read-aloud but also makes it a great read for independent readers. The detailed illustrations take readers directly into the wild west of yesteryear. The humorous way the author tells the story inspired me to laugh and grin, even through multiple readings.

Although the book is written on a reading level more appropriate for fourth or fifth graders, the book is entertaining as a read-aloud for younger children—grades 1-5.

Keywords associated with this book: cowboys, Wild West, dogs, humor

The Princess Academy

Romance, intrigue, danger, princesses and the chance to meeting Prince Charming at a ball—The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale has all the elements guaranteed to make a young girl’s heart go pitter patter. Miri is a small-for-her-age 14-year old girl who has lived on Mount Eskel for her entire life. One day, Lowlanders visit her quarry home to announce that the Prince’s bride will be chosen from the girls of Mount Eskel. All the girls are taken to the Princess Academy, where they learn the true values of education, home, family and friendship.

Shannon Hale, author of The Goose Girl and Enna Burning has written a novel with characters that mirror real life teens. Miri, the main character struggles with self-doubt and life without a mother but still somehow remains true to herself. The touching scenes between Miri and her father illustrate the difficulty that many girls face in trying to establish a cross-gender relationship. Miri and the other princess trainees discover how to stand up to unfair adults and even how to communicate telepathically through their mountain home. The happily-ever-after ending directly appeals to my optimistic self. The book reminded me that if I am true to myself and do the right thing, things will ideally work out well in the end.

I would recommend this book for grades 4-7.

Keywords associated with this book: prince, princess, schools, mountain

Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds

“In America you can achieve anything if you set your heart to it.” These inspiring words are repeated throughout the book Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds—The Sammy Lee Story by Paula Yoo. In this picture book biography about the Olympic medal winning diver, Sammy Lee, Yoo relates the experiences of a young Korean boy whose parents moved to America for a better life. Sammy experiences the hardships of being non-white in the 1930s and 1940s and is faced with discrimination daily. Despite the biases shown him, Sammy decides that he wants to be a diver and works hard to achieve his dream. In addition to becoming an Olympic gold medalist, Sammy also becomes a doctor, his father’s dream for his life. Although Sammy’s father did not live to see him win the gold medal, his words—“In America you can achieve anything if you set your heart to it”—echoed in his ears and in his heart throughout the rest of his life.

Paula Yoo brings Sammy Lee’s passion for diving into this biography of a great American. I loved the illustrations by Dom Lee and Paula Yoo’s exceptional writing style made me feel the frustration of the young boy who grew up to achieve great things. This Bluebonnet Award nominated book is a wonderful read for boys and girls alike and will cause all of us to cheer when Sammy achieves his lifelong ambition of becoming an Olympic diver. Thank goodness that “In America you can achieve anything if you set your heart to it”.

I would recommend this book for students in grades 2-5.

Key words associated with this book: diver, Olympics, Korean-Americans, courage

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